HP's Wireless Direct features eliminates the only configuration step—joining a …

Hewlett Packard is showing off a range of new printers at Macworld|iWorld 2012, largely aimed at the home office and small-to-medium business segments. However, a new feature of its latest printer models is what really caught our eye on the show floor. HP's Wireless Direct makes it possible to print documents and images from an iOS device via AirPrint without even knowing the name or password of the local wireless network.

All of HP's printers now include the company's ePrint feature, which enables options like wireless printing, sending documents to print via e-mail from anywhere in the world, and directly accessing documents in the cloud. These ePrint capabilities also enable support for Apple's AirPrint standard, according to Marketing Manager Annamaria Pardini, which lets iPhones and iPads to print to a networked printer without any setup, configuration, or driver installation.

If AirPrint weren't simple enough, Wireless Direct can make the process even easier. AirPrint requires that a compatible printer be accessible on the same wireless network as an iOS device, so you need to know the local network's name and (usually) a password. If you're visiting a friend or acquaintance, or stopping by a local business, you might not have those details. (Or if your WiFi was set up by an engineer from the University of Illinois, like mine was, you may just have a complicated WPA2 shared key.)

Wireless Direct-enabled printers broadcast their own SSID, allowing iOS devices (or any WiFi-enabled computer) to connect directly without knowing any details of the local network. Users can choose "HP-Print-4f-LaserJet" as their network, for instance, and as far as your iPhone is concerned, it is connected to a WiFi network with an AirPrint-compatible printer.

The number of times you might have to explain how to input an ampersand as part of a password might be small, so beyond the cool factor, it may not have a lot of practical applications in the home. We think Wireless Direct would be most beneficial to small businesses that wouldn't normally share network passwords. In addition to iPhones and iPads, Wireless Direct also works with computers running Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux, assuming a suitable driver is available.

In addition to the title fix - "which lets iPhones and iPads to print to a networked printer " doesn't seem right either.

So basically anyone can connect wirelessly to a printer without a password as long as they are in range? I can't see this getting abused by pranksters to either print random pages to empty an ink cartridge, or printing out something NSFW at the most inappropriate time.

In addition to the title fix - "which lets iPhones and iPads to print to a networked printer " doesn't seem right either.

So basically anyone can connect wirelessly to a printer without a password as long as they are in range? I can't see this getting abused by pranksters to either print random pages to empty an ink cartridge, or printing out something NSFW at the most inappropriate time.

This.

Also, even without the above, I can see a lot of my former employers saying these devices aren't even allowed in their buildings unless that can be turned off and protected from being turned back on without a password. (The rationale being.. if the OS on the printer has access to the internal network, and someone else's device has access to another network interface that that OS listens to.. they could break into the secure network through the printer. Probably a realistic scenario, too(Not as realistic as a remote attacker hitting one of your known internet points of presence, but still, probably will happen sooner or later.)

It might have its issues, but I'm guessing that for businesses who are most likely to use it it shouldn't be too big a deal to manage.Hopefully there is at least some sort of timer function though-given that prankster risk I'd like to at least be able to turn it off from 6pm-8am.

Wireless Direct is an optional feature, as is all the ePrint/cloud stuff. I think for the majority of popular uses cases, security won't big a big concern. Yeah, some jerk might come along and print a hundred copies of Goatse, or something simolarly annoying. But then again any asshole could bust the windows out of your car, and that doesn't stop everyone from parking on the street.

I hope this means people will be able to print to a portable, battery-powered printer. HP makes a good one, but it's Bluetooth or USB only. Of course a laptop does everything necessary, but they're apparently not awesome enough for the cool people.

Yeah, some jerk might come along and print a hundred copies of Goatse, or something simolarly annoying. But then again any asshole could bust the windows out of your car, and that doesn't stop everyone from parking on the street.

Yeah, but odds of someone getting caugh (and going to jail) for busting out your car windows is not insignificant. Odds of someone getting caught driving by an office park, finding an open printer, and sending it 10,000 copies of porn are next to nothing. Same thing with any sucker who leaves this on in an apartment/condo complex.

Frankly, I think the requesting to be allowed on the network "barrier" is a good one for people to then be prompted to ask to use a printer, since there is a real cost of materials involved in the use of one.

Its a scam to get you to buy a new printer. Why could'nt HP allow Airprint to work with any of their wireless printers? Because it was a deal with Apple to offer it only on certain models. I was so mad when I bought a Office Jet HP and it was not on the list? Going back to this being able to print even though you have not officially joined a network. That sounds like a backdoor that could allow a hacker to access some of your network. I think someone needs to further test this potential security issue. How else can you bypass the network? You must be accessing the printer directly. This is one thing the iPad is not good at. Printing through a network printer. Why, because you cannot load drivers for the printer in a iPad. What Apple does with IOS is what you are able to do. Talk about a locked system.

Its a scam to get you to buy a new printer. Why could'nt HP allow Airprint to work with any of their wireless printers? Because it was a deal with Apple to offer it only on certain models. I was so mad when I bought a Office Jet HP and it was not on the list? Going back to this being able to print even though you have not officially joined a network. That sounds like a backdoor that could allow a hacker to access some of your network. I think someone needs to further test this potential security issue. How else can you bypass the network? You must be accessing the printer directly. This is one thing the iPad is not good at. Printing through a network printer. Why, because you cannot load drivers for the printer in a iPad. What Apple does with IOS is what you are able to do. Talk about a locked system.

You could have actually checked the list of compatible printers before you purchased one. Also, the last few sentences are very unclear as to what the point is. The purpose of airprint is that you don't have to load drivers. It's up to the printer manufacturer to implement this, and HP, Canon, and now Epson all have at least some models that support airprint. It's quickly becoming a common feature.

Also, which Officejet did you buy? The entire line of current models all support Airprint, with the exception of the 4500 series (which is the lowest tiered, and did not get updated last year as far as I can tell). All the Photosmart series support it as well. Not really sure about the 'scam' you are referring to.

HP is really taking the lead, it seems, on fixing long-standing issues with printer setup. I'd like to see more of this kind of thing from other big vendors like Xerox, Canon, and Konica.

Memo to printer makers: we hate that your drivers and setup are bloated, often incompatible, and often out-of-date. If you could just agree upon and use a damn set of standards, we'd all hate you a little less. Edit: And I'm looking at your last five years' worth of printers, HP... are you becoming un-annoying again?

HP is really taking the lead, it seems, on fixing long-standing issues with printer setup. I'd like to see more of this kind of thing from other big vendors like Xerox, Canon, and Konica.

Memo to printer makers: we hate that your drivers and setup are bloated, often incompatible, and often out-of-date. If you could just agree upon and use a damn set of standards, we'd all hate you a little less. Edit: And I'm looking at your last five years' worth of printers, HP... are you becoming un-annoying again?

Good point. Universal printer drivers, where the PC scans and identifies any printer connected to it or the network, would be AMAZING.

HP is really taking the lead, it seems, on fixing long-standing issues with printer setup. I'd like to see more of this kind of thing from other big vendors like Xerox, Canon, and Konica.

Memo to printer makers: we hate that your drivers and setup are bloated, often incompatible, and often out-of-date. If you could just agree upon and use a damn set of standards, we'd all hate you a little less. Edit: And I'm looking at your last five years' worth of printers, HP... are you becoming un-annoying again?

Good point. Universal printer drivers, where the PC scans and identifies any printer connected to it or the network, would be AMAZING.

So ... perhaps someone knows, but if I have no WiFi network at all ... can I still print to one of these? Am I understanding that the printer itself is in effect, a WiFI network on its own?

I think so, yes. It has its own Wifi base station. I'm probably getting a wifi mono laser soon for home use so that I can set it up in the cupboard or attic without needing to run usb / ethernet to it. My kids have trashed two laser mono printers so far (left crayons on top of the first one which melted and ran through, and broke off the trays of the second one).

I think so, yes. It has its own Wifi base station. I'm probably getting a wifi mono laser soon for home use so that I can set it up in the cupboard or attic without needing to run usb / ethernet to it. My kids have trashed two laser mono printers so far (left crayons on top of the first one which melted and ran through, and broke off the trays of the second one).

HP's next goal, how to get your kids to visit more homes with laser printers.

They've had an app out for a while that lets you print any picture (read: screenshot).

Also, from a security perspective, like other readers have mentioned, this STILL needs actual network print drivers so that you can put the printer behind the router. But why waste your time hiding your laser printer from iPads? They'll just fire up the laptop and burn you anyway...

So ... perhaps someone knows, but if I have no WiFi network at all ... can I still print to one of these? Am I understanding that the printer itself is in effect, a WiFI network on its own?

HP wireless direct is only available on a few printers but no as the article mentioned you don't need a wifi network. The connection is basically an ad-hoc connection between your tablet or computer (whatever) and the printer (thus the direct part).

Airprint itself is available on a ton of printers from HP. Almost all of their current wireless consumer models support airprint. The issue there is that you still need the printer to be on a network in order for it to work. Adding in wireless direct also supports more devices like Android tablets, direct printing from laptops pcs ect without the need to have a router.

Good point. Universal printer drivers, where the PC scans and identifies any printer connected to it or the network, would be AMAZING.

I hate to say it, but Macs do this... :-)

Macs do what? Are you referring to a universal driver in-the-box that works with EVERY possible printer? That would be news to me. And that is what CaribouLou was talking about.

Or are you referring to service-discovery (for network printers) and/or the ability to determine the printer model and then download the appropriate driver from the internet? Because that is hardly new or unique, Windows can do this too.